Friday, December 23, 2011

Moody's Mega Math (M3) Challenge is an online applied mathematics competition for high school students designed to motivate students to study and pursue careers in applied math, economics, and finance. The contest is sponsored by The Moody's Foundation and organized by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). Registration deadline: February 24, 2012.

Each participating community will be provided all launch services to fly a real microgravity research mini-laboratory on ISS from September 28 to November 12, 2012, and a kit for assembly of their mini-lab. An 8-week experiment design competition in the community, held Spring 2012, will allow grade 5-12 student teams to design real microgravity experiments vying for their community’s reserved mini-lab slot on ISS.

SSEP immerses a community of students in real scientific research of their own design (grade level appropriate), using a highly captivating spaceflight opportunity on ISS - America’s newest National Laboratory – which will garner the community significant media attention.

SSEP is a true STEM education program. It addresses a wide range of biological and physical science disciplines (thus appropriate for all teachers of science), including: seed germination, crystal growth, physiology of microorganisms and life cycles (e.g. bacteria), cell biology and growth, food studies, and studies of micro-aquatic life. Students design experiments to the technology and engineering constraints imposed by a real research mini-lab and flight operations to and from Earth orbit.

What is the universe made of? Why did dinosaurs go extinct? What do magic tricks and hip-hop have to with math? What will be the next medical breakthrough? What do fossils and rocks tell us about the Earth’s secrets? What does baseball have to do with physics? Find out at the 2nd USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo! Explore science & engineering with 2,000 free, hands-on activities and over 100 stage shows and author presentations. The two-day Expo is perfect for teens, children and their families, and anyone with a curious mind who is looking for a weekend of fun and discovery. Meet Science Celebrities, award-winning Science Authors and Nobel Prize winners from the past and present. New this year: A Career Pavilion for high-school students, a Book Fair featuring over 30 science authors, and a science carnival for children! The Expo is the pinnacle event of the 2nd USA Science & Engineering Festival to be held in the greater Washington D.C. area in April 2012. The Festival is a collaboration of over 500 of the nation’s leading science and engineering organizations. For more information on all Festival events and how you can get involved, visit www.usasciencefestival.org

Monday, December 12, 2011

NASA Langley Research Center, in partnership with the Virginia Air & Space Center, will be offering a series of GLOBE Teacher Training Workshops supporting the Student Climate Research Campaign. Free one-day workshops will be held on Saturdays - January 14, February 18, and March 10 - at the Virginia Air & Space Center in Hampton, VA. Teachers will receive approximately 5.5 hours of professional development per workshop.

The GLOBE program involves students in conducting local scientific research investigations on the environment. Students take measurements, analyze data, and participate in research in collaboration with scientists. This workshop series will focus on student investigations of climate.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

On Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10:30 am, WAVY-TV 10/ WVBT-TV FOX43 will air a program called, KidTalk, with Kerri Furey. Dr. Kristy Collins, Program Manager for Kids' Tech University, will be a guest expert on the program. The show will feature a local high school and discuss Technology safety (with an emphases on texting/facebook and tweeting).

The station posts the show online about a week after it airs. We will be linking the show on the blog when its available online. For anyone in Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth or Virginia Beach area...you can check it out on Saturday at 10:30 pm!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Bowling Green State University Kids' Tech University program enrollment begins TODAY, Dec. 5th at 6 pm! Please check out their website here. See below for the list of scientists leading the Interactive Morning Session:

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Below is a press release that was released from the USA Science and Engineering Festival which will be held on April 28-29th in Washington, D.C.

Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech is excited to be involved with this event (information about our booth is in the press release!)

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WASHINGTON – October 31, 2011 — When you sit down to watch television or go to the movies, you don’t have to look far to see science and engineering hard at work. It’s in the high-tech gadgets used to analyze crime scene evidence, the medicine developed to stop the spread of disease, amazing super powers and phenomenal fight scenes – it’s everywhere. But, have you ever wondered how Hollywood gets it right?

Individuals and families can learn about the science behind Hollywood’s crime dramas, superhero feats, medical shows and special effects at the USA Science & Engineering Festival, hosted byLockheed Martin — the nation’s largest celebration of science and engineering that will take place April 28-29, 2012 in Washington, D.C. The festival will feature exhibits, performances and appearances by scientists and organizations that work closely with Hollywood film and TV producers to make sure that they are portraying science and engineering realistically.

One of those organizations is The Science & Entertainment Exchange, a program of the National Academy of Science that puts the likes of Nobel Prize winners on speed dial for Hollywood TV and film producers. “Since we’ve started, we’ve facilitated more than 350 consults – an average of 2 to 3 each week – for movies like Iron Man 2, TRON: Legacy, Thor, Green Lantern and the upcoming Disney film The Avengers, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Ann Merchant, Deputy Executive Director for the Office of Communications for The National Academies. “We’re not the accuracy police, more like the plausibility patrol – it’s not about making a movie a textbook, but we do try to make sure that there are more realistic elements included in the stories on which we consult,” continued Merchant.

Several performers at the USA Science and Engineering Festival will give participants the opportunity to experience the science of Hollywood up close and personal, including:

·Learning the science behind the wizardry of Harry Potter and the magic from Hogwart’s Academy in demonstrations showing how science can make objects levitate or disappear, from San Diego State University Professor and former NSTA president, Dr. Alan McCormack.

·Simulating the rapid spread of the H1N1 virus through the Walter E. Washington Convention Center – similar to the epidemic in the movie Contagion – utilizing bar code and Quick Response (QR) tags as a surrogate for the virus, at an exhibit by the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech.

·Competing in robot battles like those seen in the movie Real Steel and operating various other robots throughout the festival, including the robotic tools used to find the Titanic on the ocean floor. Ocean exploration pioneer, David Gallo, discoverer of the Titanic is scheduled to appear at the Festival.

·Touring the vehicles that chase tornados and extreme weather in the popular reality show Storm Chasers. Dr. Josh Wurman, founder of the Center for Severe Weather Research, which operates the Doppler on Wheels (DOW) – a mobile radar unit that observes tornadoes, hurricanes, wild fires and other phenomena from close range – will give a talk and meet with fans.

·Exploring how scientists use technology to detect life on other planets and meeting Seth Shostak – an alien chaser that the movie Contact was based upon.

·Meeting the inventor and inspiration for the Iron Man movies in which he makes a cameo appearance, Elon Musk, who also serves as CEO and chief technology officer of SpaceX, the producer of the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets.

A festival favorite, Jim Kakalios, will mesmerize the crowd with a presentation on the science of superheroes, explaining the plausibility and the scientific basis for super powers from all of our favorite comic books. Kakalios is the author of the Physics of Superheroes, a book that explains physics principles in an easy-to-understand and often humorous manner.

A physics professor at the University of Minnesota, Kakalios was connected to the filmmakers of The Watchmen by The Science & Entertainment Exchange to consult on the translation of the graphic novelto the big screen for the 2009 Warner Bros. film. He has also consulted for the recent film The Green Lantern and the upcoming film The Amazing Spider Man, in theaters next summer. “The real benefit for me is that I get to interact with fun, nice people [in Hollywood] who are turned on by ideas and they want to do their best to make it realistic,” said Kakalios. “When I watch TV or films and I see them get it right, it’s like catching a little inside joke. I appreciate it and hope that the audience will learn a little something about science.”

The USA Science & Engineering Festival will also feature leading science celebrities like Bill Nye the Science Guy and Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of the MythBusters, who will appear live during the finale Expo. Also scheduled to appear are Jeff Lieberman from Discovery Channel’s series Time Warp and Apollo Robbins, the Gentleman Thief from National Geographic’s Brain Games.

The USA Science & Engineering Festival Book Fair will feature several authors who have changed science in the media. Dr. Robin Cook has written more than 30 best selling novels – including Coma, which was made into a successful feature film by Michael Crichton and Outbreak, which served as the basis for NBC’s “Virus.” Dr. Cook’s writing transformed the media’s representation of the medical profession from what it used to be in the days of Marcus Welby, MD to what we are used to seeing to see in shows like ER and Grey’s Anatomy. Homer Hickam took us into the world of opportunity with his biography — a quest to become a rocket scientist — that became the hit movie October Sky. Illustrator Bruce Degan brought Joanna Cole’s words to life in the books and eventual TV enterprise the Magic School Bus, which has delighted and enlightened youth about the possibilities of science for the past 25 years.

About the USA Science & Engineering Festival:

The USA Science & Engineering Festival is the country’s only national science festival, and was developed to increase public awareness of the importance of science and to encourage youth to pursue careers in science and engineering by celebrating science in much the same way as we celebrate Hollywood celebrities, professional athletes and pop stars. Lockheed Martin is again the presenting host of the USA Science & Engineering Festival and is joined by many other Festival sponsors and partners. The USA Science & Engineering Festival is a grassroots collaboration of over 500 of the United States leading science and engineering organizations. For more information on the USA Science & Engineering Festival, please visit the Festival website.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Bowling Green State University Kids' Tech University program enrollment begins Monday, Dec. 5th at 6 pm! Please check out their website here. See below for the list of scientists leading the Interactive Morning Session:

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The annual National STEM Video Game Challenge for both students and K-12 teachers is now open for entries. The annual competition, held by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media in partnership with sponsors AMD Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting/PBS KIDS Ready To Learn Initiative, Entertainment Software Association and Xbox 360, is accepting submissions of original video game concepts and designs from students and educators in four categories at www.stemchallenge.org

"The National STEM Video Game Challenge will channel the potential of a new generation of game creators to develop innovative tools for learning,” said H. Melvin Ming, President and CEO, Sesame Workshop. Entries can be created using any game-making platform including, but not limited to, written concepts, Gamestar Mechanic, Microsoft’s Kodu Game Lab, GameMaker and Scratch.

The National STEM Video Game Challenge will accept entries from November 15, 2011 through March 12, 2012. Complete guidelines and details on how to enter are available at www.stemchallenge.org

Parents should check out the "For Parents" KTU website which will answer questions on enrollment, scholarships, and general procedures. Any other questions can be directed to Dr. Kristy Collins at kdivitto@vbi.vt.edu

What is the universe made of? Why did dinosaurs go extinct? What do magic tricks and hip-hop have to with math? What will be the next medical breakthrough? What do fossils and rocks tell us about the Earth’s secrets? What does baseball have to do with physics? Find out at the 2nd USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo! Explore science & engineering with 2,000 free, hands-on activities and over 100 stage shows and author presentations. The two-day Expo is perfect for teens, children and their families, and anyone with a curious mind who is looking for a weekend of fun and discovery. Meet Science Celebrities, award-winning Science Authors and Nobel Prize winners from the past and present. New this year: A Career Pavilion for high-school students, a Book Fair featuring over 30 science authors, and a science carnival for children! The Expo is the pinnacle event of the 2nd USA Science & Engineering Festival to be held in the greater Washington D.C. area in April 2012. The Festival is a collaboration of over 500 of the nation’s leading science and engineering organizations. For more information on all Festival events and how you can get involved, visit www.usasciencefestival.org

Monday, November 28, 2011

Over the last hour we found out that Google Chrome and Firefox are having issues with the VT Survey System. After you enrolled your child in the program you should have seen a box that popped up with further instructions- this means you enrolled your child. If you did not see that box and the survey automatically erased all your information and went straight back to the survey-- you have not enrolled your child. Use Internet Explorer or Safari- it should go through then.

If you have any questions about your child's enrollment please don't hesitate to contact Kristy Collins at kdivitto@vbi.vt.edu or 540-231-1389; make sure you list the county/state information you registered them under.

The Virginia Tech Kids' Tech University program for the Spring 2012 semester will open enrollment on Monday, Nov. 28th at 6 pm! Please see this website for enrollment information. Remember to "refresh" your link if you are having troubles registering at 6 pm.

Parents should check out the "For Parents" KTU website which will answer questions on enrollment, scholarships, and general procedures. Any other questions can be directed to Dr. Kristy Collins at kdivitto@vbi.vt.edu

Parents should check out the "For Parents" KTU website which will answer questions on enrollment, scholarships, and general procedures. Any other questions can be directed to Dr. Kristy Collins at kdivitto@vbi.vt.edu

Monday, November 21, 2011

Dr. Harold "Skip" Garner, Executive Director of Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech, recently lead a team of scientists in creating a computer program for Virginia Tech undergraduates. The concept is simple, type in your interests, press "Submit to find matched courses and majors" and a list of Virginia Tech majors and/or courses corresponding to your interests is displayed. Majorizer works for undergrads and also suggest fields of study for graduate work. The program -- called The Majorizer -- is in beta form. Dr. Garner is excited to share this program with KTU! (Kids' Tech University was first developed at Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, in cooperation with Virginia 4-H.)

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Geologists are scientists that study the Earth in order to understand what our planet looked like in the past, how it changed to its present form and what it will look like in the future. These are important issues for all of us so we can better predict and prepare for any changes that may occur and can affect our way of life. Antarctica is a great place for geologists to work, because it is a very old continent that has experienced a lot of changes and can help answer some of these questions. Scientists have drilled for rocks in Antarctica to learn how mountains and volcanoes formed and how they might be related to earthquakes or what kind of plants and animals lived there in the past and why and when they dissapeared. Rocks can also tell us why there is so much ice in Antarctica, when it all formed and, ultimately, how its melting will affect the rest of the world.

Cristina Millan is a Ph.D. student in the School of Earth Sciences at the Ohio State University. Her research focusses on rock deformation, rock structures and fluids beneath the Earth's surface. She has travelled to Antarctica to do field work on three occasions, two of them as a member of the ANDRILL research team.

Friday, November 18, 2011

The VSU Engineering Department will be exhibiting 2 Thermal Vision Cameras! The students will learn about surveying Temperature Measurement and Remote Temperature Measurement. The department will also be available to discuss other applications in military or industrial situations.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

At the Science Museum of Virginia exhibit, we will look at the different types of rocks: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Kids will be able to look at, identify, and touch different samples as they learn. As they are learning about how different rocks form, they will also make a model door hanger that shows the 4 main layers of the earth's crust and list some brief facts about each layer. They will learn a little bit about tectonic plates, continental drift, and why continents look like they do.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Through the compelling story of ANDRILL's (*AN*tarctic geological *DRILL*ing) research in the extremes of Antarctica, participants will be introduced to cutting-edge climate change science and *Antarctica’s Climate Secrets*. ANDRILL has developed hands-on materials for educators to use in formal and informal settings. ANDRILL is offering a teacher workshop in conjunction with KTU. Educators from this workshop will lead hands-on activities they learned about the morning of the event with the kids of Kids’ Tech University.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Interaction Description:Zooplankton are small animals that float or drift in great numbers in fresh or salt water but cannot swim against currents. Zooplankton come in all different sizes, some are too small to see with the naked eye and some jellyfish can grow to be 6 ft long and weigh 400 lb. In Antarctica, zooplankton are very important to the health of the ecosystem. They act as the main food source for large apex predators like whales, seals, penguins and other marine birds. We'll be showing you what some of the important Antarctic zooplankton look like, how we study them and some of the threats they face with continuing global climate change.

Project Description:The Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) study area is located to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula extending South and North of the Palmer Basin from onshore to several hundred kilometers off shore. The Palmer LTER studies a polar marine biome with research focused on the Antarctic pelagic marine ecosystem, including sea ice habitats, regional oceanography and terrestrial nesting sites of seabird predators. The Palmer LTER is one of more 26 LTER research sites located throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Tahiti; each focused on a specific ecosystem, that together constitute the LTER Network.Source: http://pal.lternet.edu/

Monday, November 14, 2011

"Groundwater in changing Climate"

Climate change does not just increase air temperature, melt polar ice and glaciers, and raise sea level; it has the potential to change precipitation patterns that also will change the availability of groundwater and surface water so critical to our lives. Although many might not realize it, groundwater potentially is our most important source of water. Not only do we draw groundwater from aquifers directly beneath us, but groundwater also supplies from 60% to more than 90% of the water that flows through streams in Virginia. It also supplies much of the water to plants, including the crops that supply our food and vegetation that protects and supports wildlife. Thus, understanding where and how groundwater flows and how this might change as climate changes is essential to managing the quality and quantity of these critical water supplies.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Take your students/kids on a virtual field trip to the Adélie Penguin breedingcolony at Cape Royds, Ross Island, Antarctica. Penguin Science is an NSF funded project engaging and educating classrooms and the public with Antarctic penguins as they raise their chicks and cope with global climate change.

Monday, November 7, 2011

You and your family are invited to attend the Virginia Tech Open House! Saturday, November 12, 2011, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Please join us for a behind-the-scenes look at how Virginia Tech is inventing the future as more than 60 areas across campus open their doors to the community. Participants will tour world-class facilities, learn about cutting-edge research, and interact with faculty and students. Don't miss this rare opportunity to explore Virginia Tech.

Use this website to plan your visit. There are more activities and information to come, so please check back often to see what your favorite unit is up to and how to best navigate your day! Transportation will be provided. Blacksburg Transit (the university’s bus system) will provide complimentary shuttle service on three different loops with multiple stops. There will also be complimentary parking on campus. As a courtesy to our guests, visitor passes will not be required for campus parking lots on Saturday, November 12, with the exception of otherwise restricted spaces (loading zones, handicap spaces, etc.). See the Parking Map for available lots and locations. The Universal Access Campus Map Page shows accessible routes and building entrances for individuals who have mobility impairments or who just need to have reasonably accessible paths.

There will be a printed brochure available at the Open House with a campus map and list of events and activities, but you can download your own PDF version to bring with you.

For additional information or questions, please contact 540-231-2190 or openhouse@vt.edu.